Who should Americans trust more for nutrition advice: doctors, dietitians and the Food & Drug Administration or radical environmental activists?

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) thinks its the latter and deliberately steers families and their growing children away from eating tuna except for once a month in newly released guidelines. Ignoring decades of research showing the benefits of a seafood-rich diet, EDF calls for Americans to eat far less tuna than recommended by dietitians, the FDA and many major medical groups including the American Heart Association.

Backing the EDFs guidance is their own pet scientist Timothy Fitzgerald. Hes not a doctor or dietician, but lists himself as a senior policy specialist/marine scientist for EDF. Hes even admitted that his advice on tuna does not try to balance risks and benefits.

But balancing risks and benefits is basic science, not to mention basic common sense.

Tuna is one of the best fish sources of omega-3 fatty acids, an essential nutrient our bodies cannot make and must get through our food. Which is why its been recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture that Americans eat more fish. In fact, USDAs 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend Americans eat more fish because consistent evidence shows that the health benefits from consuming a variety of seafood in the amounts recommended outweigh the health risks associated with methyl mercury.

Seafood is even more important for pregnant women and developing children. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans showed that women who are pregnant or breastfeeding consume at least 8 and up to 12 ounces of a variety of seafood per week to boost their babies eye and brain development.

Unfortunately, this kind of fear mongering is old hat for the EDF, an organization who has routinely resorted to cries of hysteria while ignoring key scientific and nutrition facts about the critical nutritional benefits of eating tuna.

Far from helping parents protect their children, the EDF is offering advice that endangers the publics health. As considerable research has found, the real hazard associated with seafood is not eating enough of it.